Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) was 1.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia is 1.7%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.0% on the previous year and up 797.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, -1.0%, in 2000.
That places Saudi Arabia 128th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -1.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -101.1% |
| 2002 | -0.3% | -3136.8% |
| 2003 | -0.3% | -16.1% |
| 2004 | -0.1% | -52.5% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | -1133.3% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | +18.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -28.6% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -90.4% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +808.3% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -25.5% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -34.6% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -56.2% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +198.7% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +456.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -95.7% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | +901.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -74.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -39.1% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +1266.6% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -25.3% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -13.2% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | -8.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 67% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.6%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -3136.8% | 0.0% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | +1266.6% | 0.2% | 2.9% |
| 2005 | +1133.3% | -0.1% | 1.3% |
| 2018 | +901.1% | 0.1% | 1.4% |
| 2010 | +808.3% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.4% | -1.0% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.1% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 0.2% | 2.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 69.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 580.45 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3713 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 423.84 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.52 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Saudi Arabia was 1.7% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.0% in 2000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 128th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 797.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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